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Archive for June 2008

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Thurrott Is Coming to a Sad Realization, Cancel or Allow?

In General on Wednesday, 25 June 2008 at 22:16

Paul Thurrott posted an unusual piece on his Super Site for Windows, first published in an issue of Windows IT Pro UPDATE, which Thurrott calls “an email newsletter aimed at IT [read: Microsoft] Professionals.”

What makes it interesting is that Thurrott drops some pretenses he and other Microsoft fanatics have held dear. Does this mean Apple gets some well-deserved credit? No more than Thurrott ever gives. Does it mean Microsoft is being excoriated? Not really. Thurrott’s a Microsoft iShill and, as I’ve said before, knows — and in this piece admits — not only where his bread is buttered, but also where the dough is made and the loaves are baked.

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Well Whaddya Know? The iMac Has Cooling Fans.

In General on Monday, 23 June 2008 at 19:40

If you read my last few posts you know that I have a nearly-new iMac now. (FYI, the new logic board “broke” my iTunes authorization and Time Machine backups, but that seems to be it). 

So today I’ve been watching quite a number of videos, and when I turn them off I hear a sound. A blowing sound. Kind of like… a fan. 

Is that coming from the iMac? Yes it is, it is coming from the iMac. Never heard that before, at least not like this. I better investigate…

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My Apple Store Tech Support Story: The Finale.

In General on Saturday, 21 June 2008 at 14:02

Well, I’m home now, and writing this on my nearly-new iMac. Final parts replacement (all covered under warranty): 

iMac:

  • Video Card
  • Logic Board
  • LCD Panel
  • Power Supply
MacBook:
  • Top Case w/ Keyboard

Regarding the iMac, it would seem the only thing they left alone was the hard drive. :)

I could not be more pleased with the service. They were fast (despite my comment about people in front of me only minutes before my 11:00 appointment, they called my name on time), efficient, and kept me in the loop at all times. 

I had commented that it was a drag having both machines out of commission at the same time, so I especially appreciated their quick call to let me know the MacBook would be ready very soon and I might want to wait for it. That’s good service. 

I was hoping for the MacBook by tonight, but thought I had no shot at the iMac today, let alone so soon. 

I’ve seen numerous testimonials to excellent Apple service; consider this just another stellar review. 

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My Apple Store Tech Support Story: Part 3.

In General on Saturday, 21 June 2008 at 11:56

Tom just called to say the iMac is running diagnostics. It looks good, but they think the LCD might have experienced a little damage as well, so they’re going to go ahead and replace it. That will be another hour and he just wanted to let me know so that I could decide if I want to hang around or not. 

Since I’m at the mall, I’m gonna grab lunch and a cup of go juice. Stay tuned…

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My Apple Store Tech Support Story: Part 2.

In General on Saturday, 21 June 2008 at 11:09

OK, while I was posting my last blog entry I got a call from Tom, the Apple Genius I worked with (and with a name like Tom you know he’s gotta be good) to say they thought the MacBook would be ready in maybe 45 minutes so I might want to consider hanging around the mall for it. Since I was still in the store, that was kind of a no-brainer. 

Thirty minutes later I get a call and the MacBook is ready. I go to pick it up and Tom asks me which machine I was called on. Turns out they will have both of them ready today! The iMac power supply did the trick, and the “dust” on the screen was smoke from the old power supply burning away. Ouch! They used some alcohol to clean it off. Tom went in the back to tell them to to package them both up since the iMac should be ready any minute.

Tom comes back out to tell me that one thing they had noticed is that they don’t feel the fans on the iMac are spinning as fast as they should be. As a precaution, they’re going to swap out the logic board and test it a bit more. He gave me the MacBook and said the iMac would be maybe another hour. What the heck, I’ll wait. 

So I’m typing this post on the new keyboard on the MacBook as I sit outside the Apple store in the mall. One machine down, one to go…

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My Apple Store Tech Support Story: Part 1.

In General on Saturday, 21 June 2008 at 10:30

Well, they verified the iMac was dead, and put in for just about every part in the book (I appreciate that so they can make sure it’s fixed): power supply, logic board, LCD screen and glass panel. Those last two are because I also mentioned a kind of “dust” appearing on the inside of the screen. 

They said the best case is it’s ready today, and worst case it’s five days. They’ll call me. 

Meanwhile, the MacBook is due for a keyboard replacement. They’ve taken it as well and said it will probably be ready today. Again, they’ll call me. 

Geez, both Macs out of commission the same day. I’m posting this from the Apple store now. Well, there’s always the iPhone…

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Greetings From the Apple Store!

In General on Saturday, 21 June 2008 at 9:57

Used my iMac for an hour this morning, went out for coffee, and when I came back it was dead. Will not power up. Tried all the tricks in the book, but no go. 

Bummer.  

So I made an appointment at the nearest Apple Store and just checked in. I’m posting from there now. Appointment in 5 minutes, but there are seven people in front of me so I think it’ll be a little late. 

I also brought my MacBook since the “y” key tends not to work half the time. 

I’ll post a report later on how this all goes…

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Apple iPhone 3G Subsidy.

In General on Monday, 9 June 2008 at 22:23

In a previous post, a comment from Rus at FIXYOURTHINKING.com stated that the iPhone was being subsidized by AT&T to get the price drop seen today. Since it seemed the device would be available at $199 anywhere in the U.S. — and according to Steve Jobs will be no more expensive than $199 (U.S.) in all other countries – it didn’t seem to me like a subsidy at all.

However, in wading through post-WWDC Keynote discussions, blog posts and news stories about pricing, plans, etc., the most important data bits come right from AT&T’s own press release (emphasis mine): 

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The New .Mac: Apple MobileMe.

In General on Monday, 9 June 2008 at 13:14

OK, I’ve watched the videos, including the downloaded Guided Tour, and have some thoughts on Apple’s new MobileMe service. 

I’d heard rumors of a .Mac revamp and wrote a post on it, so my comparison will be within the context of that post and what I stated I’d like to see.

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What Of the Old 2G iPhone? What of the iPod Touch?

In General on Monday, 9 June 2008 at 11:14

[UPDATE 6/10/08] I originally wrote this post based on preliminary information about the iPhone’s new price. Subsequent data made it clear the $199 price is based on a subsidy from AT&T. You can’t buy the iPhone online, but rather must buy it at an AT&T or Apple store and activate it in-house (there is no more at-home activation) in order to get the $199 price. 

Therefore, the “true” price of an iPhone is still $499, and the value of the old generation and iPod touch are not impacted as badly as I had first thought. 

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Apple iPhone 3g: Twice the Speed, Half the Price.

In General on Monday, 9 June 2008 at 11:07

It’s got: 

  • 3G speed
  • GPS
  • Improved audio
  • Flush headphone jack
  • Plastic back (black on 8GB, black or white for 16GB)

The 16GB model is $299. 

GPS was a big one for me, because I want to be able to use the iPhone in lieu if getting a portable navigation device from TomTom or Garmin. 

I’m smack dab in AT&T’s 3G area so I’ll be able to take advantage of that, too. 

I strongly suspect the plastic back will help overall signal reception. 

I’m 90% certain I’ll get a 16GB model. I have until 7/11 to decide…

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Microsoft: Our Smartphones Have Already Accomplished Something in the Future.

In General on Friday, 6 June 2008 at 8:43

The letter Microsoft’s Andy Lees sent to their hardware, carrier, and software partners is comical on many levels, not the least of which is that why would you want to emphasize the fact that you’ve got nothing to say?

It really is kind of a stupid letter, but it follows the classic Microsoft argument (indeed, the only one they’ve ever had): When you got nothin’, toss around big numbers. 

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Free Card-Carrying ATT WiFi at Starbucks: Works For Me.

In General on Tuesday, 3 June 2008 at 22:16

Today AT&T officially rolled out part of their free WiFi strategy in partnership with Starbucks.

If you have a Starbucks card registered, you can use it to get an AT&T WiFi login and password good for two free hours of WiFi every day. The catch? You must use the card at least once each month, and AT&T sends you four promotional emails a year. 

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